Monday, April 28, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
The Tempered Radical
The Tempered Radical is a blog written by Bill Ferriter. Mr. Ferriter is a sixth grade teacher in North Carolina.
The first post I read was titled #EDTECH REFLECTIONS FOR PRESERVICE TEACHERS. He addressed a few questions someone had emailed him. The first question was "What are some of your favorite technology tools that you use in your classroom?" He responds by saying that he does not have a favorite. He does name a few he likes, but then goes on to say that it's dangerous to focus on the technology. He says that it is important to keep in mind what you are trying to get across to the students and choose the best technology to do that. The second question was "What are the responses you get from your students about using technology in the classroom? The parents’ responses?" He responds to this by saying the kids couldn't care less. They care about what they are doing, not what technology they are using. "When first introducing a new piece of technology into your classroom, what are some ways you help your students adjust? Do you teach them how to use the tools or do you prefer just letting them explore and find out on their own?" was the third question. Mr. Ferriter replies to this by saying that kids don't need to be taught how to use technology. They are good at "tinkering" with it until they figure it out. "What are some of the successes and challenges you have faced when using different forms of technology?" was the last question. He does address a few problems in reply to this question, but focuses on one. He focus that teachers using technology in their classrooms daily need to be resilient. Technology can change and it will. We have to change with it.
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The second post I read was a reality check. Ferriter titles it "Teaching is a Grind." He begins by talking about teacher appreciation week. He goes on to talk about the daily struggles he faces as a teacher. He walks you through his day to show you the time consumed life of a teacher. Ferriter also talks about his finical struggle. How teachers are underpaid and unappreciated. I found this blog to be enlightened. This was my response to his post:
"It’s not everyday that you get to read the gods honest true from a teacher who is actually going through as what you call “the grind”. As a student in the process of becoming a teacher I have to admit that what you had to say was a little nerve racking. I consider myself somewhat of a realist and am aware that teachers are not paid well. I am also aware that they are unappreciated. Despite all of this, I can tell by the way you talk about your students that “the grind” is worth it. I appreciate such a truthful response to Teacher Appreciation Week."
The first post I read was titled #EDTECH REFLECTIONS FOR PRESERVICE TEACHERS. He addressed a few questions someone had emailed him. The first question was "What are some of your favorite technology tools that you use in your classroom?" He responds by saying that he does not have a favorite. He does name a few he likes, but then goes on to say that it's dangerous to focus on the technology. He says that it is important to keep in mind what you are trying to get across to the students and choose the best technology to do that. The second question was "What are the responses you get from your students about using technology in the classroom? The parents’ responses?" He responds to this by saying the kids couldn't care less. They care about what they are doing, not what technology they are using. "When first introducing a new piece of technology into your classroom, what are some ways you help your students adjust? Do you teach them how to use the tools or do you prefer just letting them explore and find out on their own?" was the third question. Mr. Ferriter replies to this by saying that kids don't need to be taught how to use technology. They are good at "tinkering" with it until they figure it out. "What are some of the successes and challenges you have faced when using different forms of technology?" was the last question. He does address a few problems in reply to this question, but focuses on one. He focus that teachers using technology in their classrooms daily need to be resilient. Technology can change and it will. We have to change with it.
The second post I read was a reality check. Ferriter titles it "Teaching is a Grind." He begins by talking about teacher appreciation week. He goes on to talk about the daily struggles he faces as a teacher. He walks you through his day to show you the time consumed life of a teacher. Ferriter also talks about his finical struggle. How teachers are underpaid and unappreciated. I found this blog to be enlightened. This was my response to his post:
"It’s not everyday that you get to read the gods honest true from a teacher who is actually going through as what you call “the grind”. As a student in the process of becoming a teacher I have to admit that what you had to say was a little nerve racking. I consider myself somewhat of a realist and am aware that teachers are not paid well. I am also aware that they are unappreciated. Despite all of this, I can tell by the way you talk about your students that “the grind” is worth it. I appreciate such a truthful response to Teacher Appreciation Week."
C4K: April
In his blog, Judah used a Google Presentation to unveil his findings and knowledge of the Monarch Butterfly. It includes sides with information, pictures, as well as original drawings from Judah himself.
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This blog contains a video of class 18 singing the months of the year in Maori. The Maori people were the first inhabitants of New Zealand.
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This blog contains a video of class 18 singing the months of the year in Maori. The Maori people were the first inhabitants of New Zealand.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
What can we learn from Dan Meyer?
What can we learn from Dan Meyer?
Math Class Needs a Makeover (11:36)
The Art of Beating Long Lines Stop at 2:11
Answer the question in a post that adheres to the standards found in the ACCRS and in Writing
A Quality Blog Post
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After watching the two videos I think the most prevalent thing we can learn from Dan Meyers is that you have to make material relevant. Whether you are a Math teacher, an English teacher, or an Elementary teacher; the best way to engage your students is to make whatever you are teaching come to life. In the second video The Art of Beating Long Lines he uses the example of long lines at a grocery store. No body likes to wait in line so why not try to figure out waiting longer. Well that's math. That is math that can be used in every day life. That is what interests kids.
Another important point Mr. Meyers made was that we need to help students increase their critical thinking skills by not giving them all the answers. One of the things he says at the end of Math Class Needs a Makeover was to "be less helpful." We are hindering our students by laying out everything for them. They also become uninterested. Mr. Meyers says that he finds most of his students and others "Lack initiative, lack perseverance, lack retention, have an aversion to word problems, and are eager to find the formula." All of this is because we are not challenging our students. "The math serves the conversation" not the other way around. Even Einstein said "the formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution." As teachers we need to stop babying our students. The more interesting the problem is the more interested they will become. If all they are doing is computing a bunch of numbers, well then they won't be very interested.
Math Class Needs a Makeover (11:36)
The Art of Beating Long Lines Stop at 2:11
Answer the question in a post that adheres to the standards found in the ACCRS and in Writing
A Quality Blog Post
After watching the two videos I think the most prevalent thing we can learn from Dan Meyers is that you have to make material relevant. Whether you are a Math teacher, an English teacher, or an Elementary teacher; the best way to engage your students is to make whatever you are teaching come to life. In the second video The Art of Beating Long Lines he uses the example of long lines at a grocery store. No body likes to wait in line so why not try to figure out waiting longer. Well that's math. That is math that can be used in every day life. That is what interests kids.
Another important point Mr. Meyers made was that we need to help students increase their critical thinking skills by not giving them all the answers. One of the things he says at the end of Math Class Needs a Makeover was to "be less helpful." We are hindering our students by laying out everything for them. They also become uninterested. Mr. Meyers says that he finds most of his students and others "Lack initiative, lack perseverance, lack retention, have an aversion to word problems, and are eager to find the formula." All of this is because we are not challenging our students. "The math serves the conversation" not the other way around. Even Einstein said "the formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution." As teachers we need to stop babying our students. The more interesting the problem is the more interested they will become. If all they are doing is computing a bunch of numbers, well then they won't be very interested.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Collaborative Blog Post
Slapout: Anna Meitzler, Evan Grace, and myself.
1-Brian Crosby- Back to the Future-each class is full of different students. Not only different students in each class but different classes in each grade. No class is the same. Mr. Crosby’s class is a very low income class or live in poverty. Most students could not answer simple questions regarding their home state, address and country. As their teacher Mr. Crosby did not want his students to have a different curriculum than than other students. Mr. Crosby’s classroom is much like any other class room today. He has many technological devices such as laptops, smartboards and video cameras. The class takes part in many different projects and they really seem to enjoy them and it also helps keep them engaged in the material they are learning. After the projects are completed the students use their own working blog to upload the videos of the projects they have just taken part in. The students are also instructed to write a quick summary about what happens in each video. Students in Mr. Crosby’s and also other 4th grade classes at his school also have wiki pages and flickr accounts. This helps the students show what they have learned on a specific topic. after using these softwares online they cut and paste them into their blogs. When the students realized that other people are reading their stuff it makes them feel accomplished and makes them strive to work harder and do better. In this, they also added personal goals. The students were assigned to write a “high hope.” What this is something positive that the students hope to happen in the school, community and also around the world. After doing this the students sent out a plea for people all around the world to add their high hopes in the students comments to send out into outer space along with Mr. Crosby’s classes. This spread around the globe quickly and the students got a great response, in which they had all hoped for. After this project was added to their blogs students from all around the world wanted to take place in this and teachers wanted to know how to complete the project. The students not only used blogs and writing but also video skype to show and teach other students around the world so they could learn and take part in this same activity.
2-Learning Blended Cycle- Basically all blended learning is doing is taking the parts of an online, mobile and classroom learning and blending them into one classroom setting. There are 5 e’s in the learning cycle, engage, explore, expand, explain and evaluate. This is a great way to present material and material that is to be learned. By putting those two formulas together you get the blended learning cycle. In his blended learning cycle he has 6 steps:
1-it starts with a really great question. Hook in learning. students are given data and asked a specific question.
2-investigate and experiment. using given material students try different experiments and are timed at doing so.
3-use a video to help them understand. this is a form of direct instruction.
4-elaboration. reading and research.
5-review. making sure students have a clear understanding of the material discussed.
6-summary quiz.
3 - This video is done by Mark Church, Making thinking Visible. The main idea behind this video is how Mark makes his classroom think aloud. By doing this all the brainstorming is out in the open rather than just sitting quietly in their head. Each group has a couple of minutes to brainstorm a headline of their new lesson. Once the time is up they have to write it down. Later in the lesson Mark will have each group do it again so they can see how their thinking has evolved. This PBL does a great job covering collaboration and self reflectivity.
4 - In this video Building Comics , Sam Pane teaches his kids about internet safety by building their very own superhero. After making the hero the students have to build a comic book strip where the main character is doing something that is not safe on the internet. Then their hero comes in and stops them before it is too late. Before they do all this they have to discuss at their table what are things that are dangerous to do on the internet. I like this PBL because it includes so many things that are important. Discussion of the dangerous actions is a great collaboration method, building their own comic and hero is a great way to build up creativity, and then reviewing each other work is a good reflection method.
5.Project Based Learning
This video is about a school in Canada who combined History, English, and Technology into one class. The students work on individual, group, and class projects that incorporate all three subjects. What we can learn from these teachers is if you really believe in something, don’t give up. When they first started this they hit a couple roadblocks. The program was not compatible in a regular school setting. They worked through the kinks and now the program is up and running.
6.Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program
Roosevelt Elementary takes a Project Based Learning approach to teaching. What I learned is that Project Based Learning can help bring the community together. It encourages community participation and it encourages teachers to work together. PBL helps the students stay more interested in what they are learning. The students become self motivated, interactive, and critical thinkers. PBL helps students be more prepared the future.
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1-Brian Crosby- Back to the Future-each class is full of different students. Not only different students in each class but different classes in each grade. No class is the same. Mr. Crosby’s class is a very low income class or live in poverty. Most students could not answer simple questions regarding their home state, address and country. As their teacher Mr. Crosby did not want his students to have a different curriculum than than other students. Mr. Crosby’s classroom is much like any other class room today. He has many technological devices such as laptops, smartboards and video cameras. The class takes part in many different projects and they really seem to enjoy them and it also helps keep them engaged in the material they are learning. After the projects are completed the students use their own working blog to upload the videos of the projects they have just taken part in. The students are also instructed to write a quick summary about what happens in each video. Students in Mr. Crosby’s and also other 4th grade classes at his school also have wiki pages and flickr accounts. This helps the students show what they have learned on a specific topic. after using these softwares online they cut and paste them into their blogs. When the students realized that other people are reading their stuff it makes them feel accomplished and makes them strive to work harder and do better. In this, they also added personal goals. The students were assigned to write a “high hope.” What this is something positive that the students hope to happen in the school, community and also around the world. After doing this the students sent out a plea for people all around the world to add their high hopes in the students comments to send out into outer space along with Mr. Crosby’s classes. This spread around the globe quickly and the students got a great response, in which they had all hoped for. After this project was added to their blogs students from all around the world wanted to take place in this and teachers wanted to know how to complete the project. The students not only used blogs and writing but also video skype to show and teach other students around the world so they could learn and take part in this same activity.
2-Learning Blended Cycle- Basically all blended learning is doing is taking the parts of an online, mobile and classroom learning and blending them into one classroom setting. There are 5 e’s in the learning cycle, engage, explore, expand, explain and evaluate. This is a great way to present material and material that is to be learned. By putting those two formulas together you get the blended learning cycle. In his blended learning cycle he has 6 steps:
1-it starts with a really great question. Hook in learning. students are given data and asked a specific question.
2-investigate and experiment. using given material students try different experiments and are timed at doing so.
3-use a video to help them understand. this is a form of direct instruction.
4-elaboration. reading and research.
5-review. making sure students have a clear understanding of the material discussed.
6-summary quiz.
3 - This video is done by Mark Church, Making thinking Visible. The main idea behind this video is how Mark makes his classroom think aloud. By doing this all the brainstorming is out in the open rather than just sitting quietly in their head. Each group has a couple of minutes to brainstorm a headline of their new lesson. Once the time is up they have to write it down. Later in the lesson Mark will have each group do it again so they can see how their thinking has evolved. This PBL does a great job covering collaboration and self reflectivity.
4 - In this video Building Comics , Sam Pane teaches his kids about internet safety by building their very own superhero. After making the hero the students have to build a comic book strip where the main character is doing something that is not safe on the internet. Then their hero comes in and stops them before it is too late. Before they do all this they have to discuss at their table what are things that are dangerous to do on the internet. I like this PBL because it includes so many things that are important. Discussion of the dangerous actions is a great collaboration method, building their own comic and hero is a great way to build up creativity, and then reviewing each other work is a good reflection method.
5.Project Based Learning
This video is about a school in Canada who combined History, English, and Technology into one class. The students work on individual, group, and class projects that incorporate all three subjects. What we can learn from these teachers is if you really believe in something, don’t give up. When they first started this they hit a couple roadblocks. The program was not compatible in a regular school setting. They worked through the kinks and now the program is up and running.
6.Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program
Roosevelt Elementary takes a Project Based Learning approach to teaching. What I learned is that Project Based Learning can help bring the community together. It encourages community participation and it encourages teachers to work together. PBL helps the students stay more interested in what they are learning. The students become self motivated, interactive, and critical thinkers. PBL helps students be more prepared the future.
C4T
The PE Geek
The first post I read was titled "Stretch It-Stretching, WarmUp, and Cool Down Task Cards." It is about a new app that assists students and teachers in their warm ups and cool downs. It is called Stretch It!. "Featuring over 60 hand drawn stretch activities that progressively build up in difficulty, allowing students to develop their skills in a self paced manner. This app is bound to engage all students."
The second post I read was titled "EP10 – Downloading, Stretching & Sworking Out." He posts a podcast that talks about different tools he has come across in his time as a PE teacher. There are many different apps and websites that can be very helpful. He particulary about www.physedgames.com. This website allows you to create scenarios of games to help the students better understand the game.
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The first post I read was titled "Stretch It-Stretching, WarmUp, and Cool Down Task Cards." It is about a new app that assists students and teachers in their warm ups and cool downs. It is called Stretch It!. "Featuring over 60 hand drawn stretch activities that progressively build up in difficulty, allowing students to develop their skills in a self paced manner. This app is bound to engage all students."
The second post I read was titled "EP10 – Downloading, Stretching & Sworking Out." He posts a podcast that talks about different tools he has come across in his time as a PE teacher. There are many different apps and websites that can be very helpful. He particulary about www.physedgames.com. This website allows you to create scenarios of games to help the students better understand the game.
C4K March
The blog about capzles is presenting all the farm animals they kids saw on their trip to the farm. It has pictures they kids drew. It is like a slide show of all their work and what they learned at the farm.
Lukis' blog talks about the sports they play every friday. He tells us about the group games they play and how the incentive for winning is chocolate bars. He also mentions how he wished he could win more chocolate.
Bailees blog talks about the importance of PE every friday in school. She tells us that it helps her avoid being lazy and that by avoiding being lazy she does better in school.
Lukis' blog talks about the sports they play every friday. He tells us about the group games they play and how the incentive for winning is chocolate bars. He also mentions how he wished he could win more chocolate.
Bailees blog talks about the importance of PE every friday in school. She tells us that it helps her avoid being lazy and that by avoiding being lazy she does better in school.
Project 10: Interview
I used GoToMeeting to interview Sandra Yancey. The interview starts at 44sec.
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